Nation in brief: Gay marriage foes file appeal

San Francisco – Supporters of California’s gay marriage ban filed an appeal of a federal judge’s ruling striking down the voter-approved law.

The appeal filed late Wednesday to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was expected, as lawyers on both sides of the legal battle repeatedly vowed to carry the fight to a higher court if they lost.

The 9th Circuit Court has no deadlines to hear the case, which will be randomly assigned to a three-judge panel.

Washington – Legislation long sought by Democrats to save the jobs of up to 300,000 teachers, police and other public workers passed the Senate on Thursday.

The 61-39 vote – to be followed by a rush vote next week in the House – should come in time for many school districts to revisit decisions to lay off teachers before the new school year.

The $26 billion measure would provide $16 billion to help states fund their Medicaid budgets – and therefore free money for other budget priorities – and $10 billion for grants to school districts to forestall layoffs as schools across the country prepare to open.

Jackson’s last residence for sale

Los Angeles – Now you can live where Michael Jackson died.

The pop icon’s last residence, a French chateau-style estate he was leasing in Holmby Hills while rehearsing for a series of concerts last year, has come on the market at $28,995,000.

Jackson had been paying $100,000 a month for the 17,171-square-foot mansion at the time of his death on June 25, 2009.